Intermittent ball clutch



sept. 11, 192s. 1,684,172

- J. M. DAYTON INTERMITTENT BALL cLUTcH Filed June s, 1927 Patented Sept. 11, 41928.

J'IVIES M. DAYTON, OF'TORRINGTON, CONNECTICUT.

INTERMITTENT BALL CIiU'lC-. i

Application 1aed Jane s,

This invention relates Vto improvements in ball clutches, and is more particularly directed to improvements in such devices whereby the elements are self-alined.

ln my copendingapplication Serial'No. 167,799, filed F eb. 12, 1927,31 have illustrated several applications of such self-alining clutches, but have not claimed such generically. The present application demonstrates the conception and presents'claims to the structure of such clutches.

The present clutch is composed of rela'- tively few members, which need not be accurately machined, and which need not be located in a carefully predetermined and maintained position with regard to each other. Several of these members are identical in form as between themselves, so that a. very small stock of partsis required in makingy Y up the device: but at the same time, even these members need no-t be identically con-- structed as to dimensions in order to assure the posit-ive and accurate operation of the device.

One form of execution according tothe present inventionis set forth on the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an intermittent ball clutch having a retaining niem-' ber to prevent a retrograde movement?, and is particularly applied for the. operation of a counting device which sums up movements in one direction, but is unaffected by ments inthe other direction.

On these drawings: Y

Figure 1 is a face view of the base plate of the countingdevice, with the clutch members assembled therewith, parts of the same being broken away for demonstration of the relationship ofthe several parts. v

Fig. 2 is a. sectional view of the same substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figt is an exploded view showing the various members excepting the balls and springs, in their relative position but axially separated for greater clearness. Y. ntermittent ball clutches of this Vtype com,- prise a central core member having a circular periphery, and a pair of clutch'rings surrounding the core adjacent this periphery and having balls as engaging elements to be come wedged between the walls of the notches in the clutch plates and this cylindrical periphery, whereby a' relative movement of a clutch plate with regard to the lcore in one direction will causethe respective balls to an actuation of theiclutch core.

1927. Yseriai No. 196,320.

wedge and-lock the members together for rotation, whereas a movement of the clutch Y plate in the opposite direction willfremove the balls from their wedged position to a free position, so that the clutchplate may move freely relative to the clutch core. In the present illustration two such clutch plates havebeen employed, one being maintained stationary so that' the core may V.make a relative movement with regard to it, and be retained by the balls appertaining to this clutch plate against a. retrograde rotation; While the other clutch plate is driven, and through its balls causes a movement of the clutch core in the prescribed direction by the angular distance lof its own travel, and yetis free to return in the oppositedirection of rotation without In these dra-wings, the base plate 10 of a counting device is represented as having a number of pillars 11 thereon to support a bottom yplate 12: these pla-tes being locked together by the screws 1,3. i I Rigidly fastened inthe bottoni plate 12 is an upstanding spindle or post 14 Awhich fits lwithin the centralbore l5 of the core body B.

This core body has a portion with a cylindrical periphery, terminating in anv outstanding flange 17 having its'upper surface substantially at right angles to; the peripheral cylindrical surface 16. Y

The base plate '10 has a large aperture 18 therethrough, with a lug 19 extending inf f vwardly toward the center of the aperture.

Two clutch plates Pfl and PZ are'employed in the illustrateddevice. The clutch plate Pd is the driving plate-and serves to "cause a rotation of the clutch core B with respect to the base plate 10: Vwhile the clutch plate PZ is a locking plate and holds the clutch core yg5 against a retrograde movement with respect to the base plate 10.` These two clutch plates are substantially identical Vin their construel tion, except for minor inaccuracies which may arise in their manufacture. They may vbe made by simple punching operations, care only being taken to prevent majorburrs from remaining, and in: assuring that the circular line defined by the inward peripheries` 20 is of Lslightly larger 'diameter than the ycylin- 105 dri'cal portion I16 ofthe central core body B. Each of these plates is represented as .having kthree notches 21, and each has a wall 22 substantially radial with regard to the circle defined by the surfaces 2,0, 20,20; and a wall' 110 23 which curves inward toward such center, and may end in an abrupt inward curve 24.

It willbe understood that the upper surface 17 of the flange on the corebody B rings.

Each of the .clutch plates isV provided `with ,a notch 26 in its periphery, for `the driving or the lockingfof the respective plate.

.The notches 21 of the driving plate Pd are covered uby .the flat radial `wall 27 of` a cup member L, which has. a cylindrical .downy.Wardly extendin flange 28 which is substantially coaxial wit the periphery of the clutch ,plate Pd, and is spacedbeyond it Vfor there- `.ception'of a .packing felt washer 29V therebetween. The driving member 30 is provided with two upstanding lugs 31 with "a space between. `This member 30 is .formed of sheet ,metal, and-the material left in forcing the lugs `-31 `upward to. substantial right angles `with* regard to the bodyof `the plate 30, is

` turned downward to :form a driving lug 32,

`which passes through an aperture 33 in the radial surface of .thecup C, and enters the notch 26 of the clutch plate Pd filling this notch and reventing any relative rotational .movement tween the, cup `C andthe `clutch lplate Pd.

. In assembling the clutch deviceasso far" described, the bottom plate 12 4is assembled .by its pillars 11 `and screws 13`with regard .to thebase plate 10. 4.The upstanding post `14 has its` axis concentric with the axis of the aperture 18. The core .body B isthen slipped ,over the post 14 which forms a rotating spin- .dle foot, so that the bottom end 34of this core-body rests against .the bottom plate 12 as a .thrust bearing. `The clutchr plate PZ is ,then slippedloosely over `the cylindrical portion 16 of the-core body B, andits notch26 is `engaged with the 1u 19 on thebase plate 10, which is a tight tit t erewith so that no rela- .tive movements are Vpossible between the base iplate 10 and the clutch plate PZ. The balls .and springs are then assembled in the notches .210i the clutchplate PZ asiindicated in Fig. 1. VThe spacin ring R is then slipped loosely -onto the cylin rical portion 16,.and then the second clutch ring or` drivin ring Pd is like- `wise located upon this cylin rical portion 16, [audits balls and springsare `put in position. VItfwill be noted that the notches 21 ofthe re! spective rings are located in the same directions. The cup C isthen placed in position and its assembling bushing 35 is slipped-over `the upper end 36 Aof the core body B. `Any .suitable means suchv as a retainingwasher `37 (Eig. 2) may then' be slipped over -ithewextreme end 38 of the spindle 14, and if desired `the end of the spindle may be riveted over `lightly to hold the Washerin:` position, but

.nor need the peripheral surfaces of these plates be smoothly finished, nor 4need. .the in ternal surfaces of these plates or of the ring R or of the base plate 1() be finished to a high degree, since ordinary mechanical limits of lerror are permissible, providedV that no large burrs are formed. It is preferred to form the core body B of hardened steel, to resist wear, While the clutch plates PZ and Pd may be punched from sheet steel, with, a possibi-e Abrushing operation to nish the circular -in-V Aner peripheries 20, 20, 20, and the walls23 .of the notches: but it has been found in practice that even this is unnecessary in obtaining great sensitiveness of movement. y Y

In Fig. 2 the device has beenshown as rovided on a counting device, fordriving the iirhstgear G of the counting train, this=gear .bemgmounted on a spindle pivot 40. .For .driving this lgear G, the core body hasbeen illustrated as made ofthe hardened steel cylindrical portion 16 with flange 17, `which is mounted upon a brass bearing sleeve 41 yWhich'extends at its ends beyond theportions 16 and 17 to form the projectingends 34 and .36` lof Fig. 3: and which has tightly fitted Y thereto the drivingl pinion 42. for meshing the gear G. i

The method of operation of this deviceis `as follows: The drivingfinger of a moving element whose movement is to be counted, is engaged between the upstanding lugs31,r31 of the driving member 30. lAs the driving fin- 'ger rotates about an axis concentric withxthe Spindle 14, the driving member-30 is moved therewith .through the same angularfdistance,

and in a clockwise direction, Yfor example.

llfl

The downwardly extending lug 32 of the driving member 30 engages the clutch plate Pd at its notch 26, and moves Vthis clutchl plate Pd in a clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1,so that the balls 43 of this plate engage between the cylindrical wall 16 of the clutch body B and theinwardly curvf ing wall 23 of the respective notches, andv lock between these walls so that the driving mem` ber 30 and the driving plate Pd turn together, andwith them the core body B. VSince the clutch plate `PZ is held stationary by the base plate 10, the relative rotation of the corebody B-within it causesits balls to be moved relatively clockwise,` along the i walls 23, i against the pressures of the respective springs 44 littlefrictionexists between the several members. This continues so long as the driving member moves 1n a clockwise direction.

1 yAfter having completed its clockwise lation bet-Ween the clutch plate PZ and the core body B, so that the core body is held against retrograde movement. At the same time, the balls 43 of the driving clutch plate Pd react against their springs 44 and move freely over the surface 16 of the retained core body B, with very little friction.

1t will be under-.stood that the relative movement of the balls 43'during the cou-rse of this alternation is very slight: and it has been found in practice that less than .O1 of an inch of relative movement between the driving member 3() and the base plate lO'will be a-c- .curately summed up by this intermittent clutch device, even with the relative inaccuracies in construction as noted. Since the gear 42 is mounted on the spindle 14, the final drive to the gear G is accurate under all conditions, regardless of variations between axial directions of the driving finger engag ing the lugs 31 and the axis of the spindle 14, the relative positions of the several parts, etc..

From the foregoing, it will be noted that accuracy of the respective parts is not required for a proper operation. In addition to the points above set forth, it will particularly be noted that eccentricities of the cylindrical surface 16, whether arising in manufacture or as a result of uneven wear, will be harmless so long as the balls and springs do not -slip from their respective cages, and so long as there is no physical blocking between the eccentricsurface with respect to the arc` defined by the surfaces 20, 20, 20, Likewise these latter surfaces need not be concentric with the surface 16, since the balls in their location within the notches and as engaged by the springs serve. as an alining means for these plates, and in case that a full alinement isnot obtained, the slight yielding on the part of the balls and springs will produce a full operation, even though a considerable departure from accuracy be involved. It is not necessary that the balls should be of the same size, so long as they are of less diameter than the thickness of the respective clutch plates: nor is the particular size of the notches 21 important, since the balls will move within the notches until they establish wedging relation. Furthermore, distortion of the clutchV plates or of the spacer ring is not important, even though these be considerably out of plane, so long as no mechanical blocking occurs and so long as the respectivenotches retain their respective balls and springs.

The. clutch plates may be considerably eccentric as regards the axis of the spindle 14 without harm, and even the clutch core itself as indicated above may be eccentric, so that the clutch vplates -will move during a Single revolution of the clutch core, so long as the respective lugs engage their notches without a great amount of back-lash: and even this amount of back-lash may be determined according to the particular use for which the` device is intended.

The invention is not limitedto the specific example of execution shown, but may be modified withinthe scope of the appended claims. j

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: Y

1. ln an intermittent clutch, a movable member including a cylindrical core, a bearing to support said core for rotation, two annular clutch plates having inclined notches t at their inner peripheries, said peripheries fitting said core and being alined thereby, all of said notches being inclined in thev same direction, a clutch ball and spring in each of said notches, means to hold one of said clutch plates, and a second movable member operatively connected to the other of said clutch plates. i

in an intermittent clutch, a movable member including a cylindrical core, a bearing to support said core for rotation, an outwardly projecting flange on said core, two annular clutch plates of uniform thickness each having inclined notches cut through their thickness from one face to the other at their inner peripheries and each a notch cut through at their outer peripheries, a clutch ball and spring in each of said inner notches, said peripheries fitting said core and being alined thereby; a spacing washer between said plates, holding means for the one of said clutch plates adjacent said fiange and including a lug in the plane of said clutch plate and projecting into its outer notch, and a second movable member' including a plate resting against theV free face of said other clutch plateand a lug entering the outer notch thereof; said iiange, said washer and said member plate closing said inner notches.

3. In an intermittent clutch, two relatively rotatable members, one of said members including a substantially cylindrical core; two identical clutch bodies surrounding said core, identical clutch means in each of said bodies to engage said core in one direction of relative movement therebetween, said other member being operatively connected to one of said bodies; and meansvon said members to hold saidjbody substantially in alinement.

4. ln an intermittent clutch, a rotatable I "ingan 'aperture sub'stan't-illyeonoentricwith fsideore4 and provldmguaflug-.extending in- "wvardly finto saidA aperture ,'fa circular clutch `yplece '-of lesser diameter thanif said aperture iand having a notch in 2 its 'periphery to enlgagefsaid lug whereby to-oeretainedagainst ition; isaid clutch plate also including notches l fwith inclined sltlrfuicese` @lut/cli ^-bffll and 'a clutch L.spring lein each- O 1sai d l-n'o`tcl'1es,l said ball being adapted to be moved by saidfspring finto anV engaged `position Abet-Weenf1tk--saiid cylindrical portion and the inclined-Wall of snid notch7` `end-V meuns Ato retainsaid balls 'and springsVl in said (notches, whereby said 4balls-"und springs assisty in the alining of Said p-lat-evwvith respect tosnid core.

`5.*In= an intermittent clutch, a movable l-mem'loer'` including.L a "cylindrical vcore -having a radial `lange,said corebeingsupported f man ier rodr'e'tiol-fA aboutfts' axis; two'annlar clutch plates "having n'chned 'notches at :their in-ner peripheries, said l' clutch @plates surrounding i-saideore and beingdnloatingf alinement on -undfparalllel to seidfflange,MA a; clutchmember Afini euchLo-sad notchesto cooperatebetween 'thecore and the-respectiveplaftey-means-to "hold one "ofl -said `olntieh'p1zantes mgwnst `|1'0- 'temenabout,A =`the core,i andl wsecond movable "member-o emt-'ivelyeonneeted-toftheothenbf '-fsaid olutc plates 1tonnel;` it about^ said core. f6. En anintermttent clutch, two relatively *rotatable nuernberg -one `of YSuid lmembers finfehdingfasubstantially cylindrical eorelhufv- -ing ai radial lflange, said f otlrerclnember 1in- "cl-udingm1-y annlar clutch plate surrounding said core andfinlfloating linementonrand -parlilel to saidflange pand means to Wrock -AsaidI eluteh plateI about 'its axis,lsaid 1 means permitting movements ofA Lthe k-p-late |outA lof JAMES DAYTON. 

